President Zardari signs seminary Registration Act into Law

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Seminary Registration Act into law, marking a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to regulate and formalize the registration of various entities, including seminaries, also known as Madrasahs.

This move comes after the National Assembly passed the Societies Registration Act 2024, which has now been converted into law with the President’s signature.

The registration will be administered under the Societies Act, which is one of the major concerns put before the Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaaris Deenia (ITMD) organization.

All the demands of ITMD over the Seminary bill had been agreed to by the federal government, and surety has been given for registration in a manner agreed by all parties. 

Finally, it has been corroborated that no joint sitting of Parliament will be required for this purpose, making it evident that a common accord on this aspect of the law too has been arrived at.

Soon, the National Assembly is expected to publish a gazette notification in order to finalize and place the new law into effect. This is part of an ongoing effort by the government to regulate and formalize the registration of entities around the nation, particularly seminaries.

The move is also expected to address the issues about the management and registration of seminaries, which for a long time have remained a contentious issue.

With the President’s approval, the bill has succeeded in being converted into a law, and the practice of the law is most likely to be done based on consensus, following an understanding between the government and relevant stakeholders.